TOLEDO, Ohio – Seven student-athletes recently met with UToledo Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dr. Marc Seigar at Maumee Bay Brewing Co. in the latest edition of "Dining with the Deans."
 
Dining with the Deans, hosted by the Student Athlete Support Services Office, provides an opportunity for Toledo student-athletes to meet with University deans and other leaders in an informal dining setting. Joining Seigar and the student-athletes at the dinner were Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair, Faculty Athletics Representative Kim Nigem and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Experience Dr. Eugene Henderson.

"It was my pleasure to attend Dining with the Deans and learn about our student-athletes and their passions for their academics and sports," said Seigar. "Our student-athletes and their success on the field and in the classroom provides motivation for future generations of students who are thinking of joining our Rocket Nation. As a dean, I am proud of everything that our student-athletes achieve."

"The conversations shared during dinner were truly inspiring," added Henderson. "I believe that every student-athlete, faculty member, and administrator left the Dining with the Deans event not only with stronger connections to one another but also feeling motivated to make a meaningful impact in their respective roles at the University of Toledo."

The seven student-athletes attending the dinner were Jaydon Cirincione (Women's Track & Field/ Environmental Science), Tucker Gleason (Football/ Computer Science and Engineering Technology), Jone Ibanez (Women's Tennis/Bioengineering), Alexander Martinez (Men's Cross Country/ Computer Science and Engineering), Peter McMahon (Men's Cross Country/ Computer Science and Engineering), Emily Vining (Women's Cross Country/ Environmental Science) and Emily Young (Women's Golf/Biology).
 
"I felt honored to be there to interact and get to know our school's leaders as well as engage with other student-athletes," said Gleason. "The key takeaway was the genuine interest our leaders have in listening to student-athletes, demonstrating their commitment to enhancing the experience for all students. This interaction highlighted their dedication to our well-being and the betterment of the University as a whole. It's special to have faculty and administrators that take the time to hear the needs of the students directly, and that's exactly what we have at the University of Toledo."
 
"It was a great experience to not only converse with athletes from different teams but also engage with various faculty members at Toledo," said Vining. "Hearing everyone's perspectives on their careers, as well as the reasons behind their interests, was incredibly insightful. Dean Marc Seigar was such an insightful person and getting to speak to him was a highlight. His advice to pursue what you're passionate about, regardless of what stage you're at in life, is such a simple yet powerful reminder. I really enjoyed connecting with everyone at the dinner."

The event marked the ninth "Dining with the Deans" since the program began nearly three years ago, with total of 60 student-athletes taking part in these dinners.